Stover is a high-upside choice for teams employing a West Coast offense.
Ohio State tight end Cade Stover heads into the 2024 NFL Draft as one of the more fascinating players at this rather thin position after converting from the other side of the ball. He was a high school basketball star, too, and some of those traits can be found in how he attacks the rock in contested coverage.
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 247 pounds
40 time: 4.65 seconds
A former linebacker who was moved to defensive end before a conversion to tight end as a Buckeye, Stover is still learning the nuances, so his best football may be yet to come. He made the full-time switch to his current position in 2022 and blossomed, going for five scores over 36 grabs. As a redshirt senior, Stover set personal bests in receptions and yardage while appearing in a dozen contests.
Table: TE Cade Stover, Ohio State (2019-23)
| Year |
School |
Class |
Gm |
Rec |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
| *2019 |
Ohio State |
Fr |
1 |
0 |
0 |
— |
0 |
| *2020 |
Ohio State |
rFr |
2 |
0 |
0 |
— |
0 |
| *2021 |
Ohio State |
rSo |
13 |
5 |
76 |
15.2 |
0 |
| *2022 |
Ohio State |
rJr |
13 |
36 |
406 |
11.3 |
5 |
| *2023 |
Ohio State |
rSr |
12 |
41 |
576 |
14.0 |
5 |
| Total |
41 |
82 |
1,058 |
12.9 |
10 |
*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)
Pros
- Natural hands catcher who is reliable during key situations and in contested situations
- Can exploit linebackers in man coverage on wheel routes and has a good feel for exploiting soft spots against zone
- Extremely versatile with room to grow — played tight end full time for only a couple of years
- Makes late adjustments to uncover and create just enough separation to matter
- Three-level receiving outlet — can catch TE screens and rumble, work the intermediate field, or down the seam
- More of a slot option over being an inline blocker but has the potential to develop into a more well-rounded option
- Exceptional work ethic and dedication — blue-collar farmer who understands what it takes to get a job done
- Physicality to go through defenders and elusive enough to get around them
- Has upside to grow into a three-down TE
- Does a fine job at selling blocks prior to releasing into space
[lawrence-related id=488266]
Cons
- Has a long way to go before becoming a complete tight end, especially as a blocker
- While we’ve seen him operate across all three levels of the route tree, his route diversity lacks experience
- Career longevity? Turns 24 in June and may need several seasons to fully mature as a player
- Undeniably benefited from the attention paid to slowing Marvin Harrison Jr. — not his fault, but it may not give a true representation of his ultimate potential if he enters a less potent passing attack
Fantasy football outlook
Ideally chosen by a team using a West Coast offense, Stover’s landing spot will drive his short-term fantasy worth more than most of the top tight ends in this class. He has legit TE1 potential by Year 3 in the right setting. The problem is he may not be a long-term solution for dynasty leaguers given his age and continued onfield maturation requirements.
In 2024, it’s unlikely gamers find a great deal of utility from him, regardless of where Stover calls home. We’ll revisit this one after his drafting, because he has enough raw talent as a receiver that there’s a slim chance someone invests the kind of selection to ensure Stover will have a Day 1 starting gig.
